When I saw that I had an old computer with a working hard drive in it I jumped the gun and decided to turn it a server. At first I was a little uncertain on how to run a server. Running a server is a little difficult than running Windows or Macintosh. Most people run a server for websites or even as an email server. I dont run a server for that reason. I run a server for backing up my documents and songs and so on. I would like to give a few tips to people who don’t know how to run a server and how to keep yourself safe when running a server.

1. Use a firewall, I recommend downloading comodo firewall or zonealarm firewalls. They are both free and work real well. Sometimes they will nag to the point where you want to explode and uninstall them. Just hang in there with them they work fine and they are doing there job. Some people hate using firewalls because they block ports on your router and some programs.

2. USe a Anti-virus. There are several good and free anti-virus programs out there. I personally like AVG Free and AVAST. AVG does a pretty good job and it detects most of your viruses, it also does not use a l ot of resources. Avast is nice but you only get a thirty day free trial before you have to pay.

3. Use anti-spyware. Spyware is very nasty and can really do a number to your system if you str not careful. There are several free anti-spyware programs out there. I use Spybot search and destroy and Spyware blaster. Spybot is very good and picks up moslty everything. Spyware blaster is more of a anti-spyware installer, It does’nt allow any thrid part apps to be installed. Another program I like is AVG Anti-spyware. AVG Anti=spyware is only free for about thirty days and than you have to buy it sadly. That is a big down side about it.

4. Use a rootkit. There is only one anti rootkit program i can think of and that is AVG anti-rootkit. It works very well and usuallys does a good job finding rootkits. Rootkits are nasty and can infect your system and even make it so its not bootable at all.

5. Use a disk defrag. Defraging your harddrive every now and than the faster it wil run. It is always good to defrag your harddrive every two to three weeks. The default windows defrag program is very bd and slow. I like a free program that is much more quicker and easier to use. It’s called Auslogic disk defrag. It does take some time to defrag but it does the job well.